Just in:5,000 Miles Away From Home, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens Opened Their House to Dutch Gymnast

5,000 Miles Away From Home, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens Opened Their House to Dutch Gymnast.

“The most amazing 2 months I’ve ever had ,” wrote Dutch gymnast Casimir Schmidt on Instagram two days after the 2024 edition of the Gold Over America Tour reached its conclusion.

For over two months, the show that aimed to celebrate “world-class gymnasts, women and men, who represent the finest of the sport”, leaped across 32 cities with 18 show-stoppers.

But for Schmidt, the experience was a different one. Not only was he making history across the pond, but he also making memories that would definitely last him a lifetime, thanks to Simone Biles’ timely intervention. But before we get to the meat of the story…

Did you know Schmidt and Biles’ friendship goes over a decade back? The duo first met during the 2013 Antwerp World Championships, and slowly built a bond where they would have long chats on Facetime and during competitions.

While it was not the greatest moment for Casimir, there is no forgetting Biles in 2013. That year, she went on to win gold in all-around and floor exercise. But then, in true Biles style, she also went on to win a silver in Vault! But the year is still memorable for Casmir.

“After Antwerp, after her comeback, we talked more and more—often on FaceTime.” And it was during one of these chats that the US athlete extended an invitation to her Dutch counterpart for the GoA tour: “And then she asked me if I wanted to join the show,” to which he obviously obliged.